Girl Innovators: Week 1

Hi-
My name is Clarissa Losciale and I am senior with a concentration in communication design and photography.

Growing up in Venezuela, I often struggled to find my role in society next to men. Like most Latin American countries, the machismo culture is still prevalent in the region and hinders the empowerment of women. Despite this impending attitude towards the feminine, my grandmother broke the status quo and found unconventional ways to empower herself as a woman. In 2000, one of her sons was kidnapped by the Colombian FARC. In response, she used her voice and platform to grab hold of the attention of the major politicians of Venezuela and Colombia at the time, all of which were men. Many doubted her, especially given her title as a divorcee from a once-powerful businessman, often refusing to respond to her multiple protests and marches, but she persisted, ultimately arranging a meeting with the Venezuelan president at the time, Hugo Chavez. Even then, he mocked her and belittled her on live national television. If it was not for her unwavering determination, my uncle would probably not be with us today.

She still remains as strong and unchallenged as ever, all without a man by her side. She single-handedly raised a household, mourned the loss of her oldest son, had her two other sons kidnapped and set an example for her youngest daughter, my mother, of what it means to be a badass woman.

I believe this course will enrich my understanding and knowledge of the way that females around the world break boundaries and how these actions can affect our perception of the world and its events.